This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

If the builders of California's bullet train switch the route to run over the Grapevine instead of a circuitous one that goes through the Antelope Valley, they can save millions of dollars, avoid potential earthquake issues and detour around some NIMBYs in upscale portions of Palmdale (is there such a thing?). But gravy train Republicans from Palmdale are up in arms.

11 Comments:

Anonymous said:

"the comments of many whom wish to handicap"

It looks like Higby and Red Spot were in the same Engrish class.

Meanwhile, Higby missed The Big News of the Day, which is that "Arnold" and Maria Shriver are splitsville. So you're bad at English, and you're not up to date on "breaking news," as Joe B. would say. Real smooth, Higby.

The multiple reasons for following the Antelope Valley route and stopping in Palmdale are:

1) Original enabling legislation provided requirement to serve under served (by air) population centers to create further economic growth. There is none along the I-5. Mojave is essentially prairie dogs.

2) The cost of going down the I-5 is much greater despite the extra distance, due to the fact that the train would have to tunnel through mountains on a parallel course to three separate earthquake faults. By using the Antelope Valley route, they bisect the three faults, thus significantly reducing both the costs and the dangers to riders.

3) There is a limit to the degree of elevation the high speed rail can surmount; ever drive The Grapevine? The additional work to extend the elevations along with the costs of tunneling far exceed the cost of the additional miles.

4) it is no coincidence that the California Aquaduct follows a route similar to the Antelope Valley route now chosen for all the reasons above.

5) The studies have already been done and the Antelope Valley route was chosen because of all of the above. All the CHSRA are doing is wasting more time and more money while they delay, in order to look at something that was studied to death by a prior Board.

6) Lastly, and perhaps more importantly, the votes necessary to enable the bonds which will finance the structure are in the Los Angeles area. Los Angeles World Airports owns 17,500 acres at The Palmdale Airport, as well as the airport itself. While there is no service presently, there will be someday, especially when the HSR is built. The people of Los Angeles will be the losers if the train does not stop in Palmdale.

To not stop at the only airport in the area is insanity. Only government would consider such a blunder.

No post on the break-up of Maria & Arnold? I guess that's what happens when your new politcal buddies are Antonio & Fabian. I've heard rumors that Fabian blackmailed Arnold with some home movies to get Arnold to cut his murderer son's sentence. I can't think of any other reason why a law and order rep would cave so easily. Maria probably got wind of it, just like Corina.

Does anyone know why Republicans won't support ending tax breaks for the top 5 oil companies? It would save the federal government over $2 trillion a year. Isn't that a better idea than the GOP plan to cut Medicare?

Bring back retail...bring back retail...bring back retail...is that the ONLY THING you can ever think to say? Retail outlets are not the solution to your problems. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? RETAIL? I guess there is just NO way out other than shopping for new iphone accessories and restaurants. Bring back the retail so everyone can remember why they closed.

I'm sorry, I'm not understanding why we are subsidizing retail while increasing class size in our schools to astronomical levels. WAIT! I GET IT! Build retail because that's the only thing the kids will be qualified to do as adults! Brilliant!

BEUTNER WILL NOT IMPROVE THIS CITY BUT WILL INCREASE THE COST TO LIVE AND VISIT HERE. DEATH TO TOURISM AND BUSINESS. IF PAUL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING TRY RENOVATING PANORAMA CITY THEY NEED IT. FORGET THE BARRIO TAG I MAY NOT SUPPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BUT ALL PEOPLE IN THIS CITY NEED A WAY TO MAKE BETTER LIVES. IT'S STILL A AMERICAN TOWN AND WAS ONCE THE SHOPPING CAPITOL OF THE VALLEY.